Definition
太岁 (tàisuì) refers both to the planet Jupiter in traditional Chinese astronomy and to a folk-religion deity called the 'God of the Year.' In Chinese astrology, Jupiter's annual movement determines where it is unlucky to dig or build — an important taboo in feng shui and rural construction. Figuratively, 太岁 appears in the proverb 太岁头上动土 ('to move earth on the God of the Year's head'), which means challenging a powerful or dangerous person, so the word can also mean a local bully or tyrant you should avoid confronting.
n.
Jupiter (the planet, in traditional Chinese astronomy)the God of the Year (a deity in Chinese folk religion whose shifting position forbids construction in that direction)(figurative) a local tyrant or powerful person one should not provoke
Examples
- 太岁。Gǔrén rènwéi tài suì zài tiānkōng zhōng de wèizhì huì yǐngxiǎng rénjiān yùnshì.Ancient people believed that the position of Jupiter in the sky could affect fortunes on earth.
- 太岁，。Jīnnián tài suì zài nánfāng, lǎo yībèi dōu shuō bú yào zài nàlǐ dòngtǔ.This year the God of the Year is in the south; the elders all say not to break ground there.
- 太岁，。Nà ge rén shì dāngdì chūle míng de tài suì, méi rén gǎn rě tā.That guy is a notorious local bully — nobody dares to offend him.
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